"I recommend you buy a book to learn how to use it"

ShawWellPete

ShawWellPete

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So I went to a masked ball with my wife this weekend and took have my new D700, Nikkon 24-70 2.8 and SB-900. There were a couple of togs there who took photos of every couple as they came in and then went around the tables and took group shots.

I had a bit of a chat with one of them who was a nice young bloke, in fact he lent me some AAs as I forgot to take spares for the flash (doh!).

He assumed I was a pro because of the kit I was holding and I explained I was a keen amateur. Now, the D700 is my third digital SLR and I have spent a lot of time over the last few years trying to learn as much as I can about photography.

Anyway, I said goodbye as I left and he said "good luck with the camera, I recommend you buy a book and learn how to use it".

:lol:

Why did he assume I was somebody with more money than sense who had just bought top of the range kit without having a clue how to use it?



Why did the comment wind me up so much?
 
ShawWellPete said:
Why did he assume I was somebody with more money than sense who had just bought top of the range kit without having a clue how to use it?

Why did the comment wind me up so much?
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1, Because I bet the majority of people he talks to in those situations fall into that catagory.

2, Probably because you know how to use a camera, and no one likes being talked down too.
 
ShawWellPete said:
Why did he assume I was somebody with more money than sense who had just bought top of the range kit without having a clue how to use it?

Why did the comment wind me up so much?
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Because you had the expensive kit and forgot spare batteries? :lol:
 
Maybe it was gear envy???
 
ShawWellPete said:
Anyway, I said goodbye as I left and he said "good luck with the camera, I recommend you buy a book and learn how to use it".


Why did the comment wind me up so much?
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I'm not surprised it wound you up. Cheeky git, I'd have been fuming if he'd said that to me! :bat:

On a more professional level if he does think that you are one of those "with more money than sense" he should have been looking at you as a prospective customer for the future - for all he knows you could be planning a similar event or you might be getting married etc etc.
 
Funnily enough I was under a lot of pressure from the wife and her friends (who arranged the ball) to do the photography for the event. I insisted they got the pros in and vetted the prospective photographers. He didn't know that of course...
 
Most young photographers think they know everything (including me :bonk:) I dont think he would of ment anything by it rather just advice thinking that it made your day talking to him :lol:
 
Here are a few of the snaps. I'm loving how the D700 handles low light, but my photography tends to depreciate with a skinful of wine...

1.

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2.
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3.
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4.
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5.
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6.
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Perhaps it wasn't meant with a tone?

In one way he's saying "You don't know how to use a camera, get a book you idiot", or on a total other way he's saying "Good luck in the future mate, if you want a bit of advice, considering you've told me you're a keen amateur, there are loads of books out there that offer loads of advice!"

I strongly believe that you can say anything to anybody so long as you word it correctly.
This is an instance in which perhaps a good intention went hand in hand with poor execution.
 
Exactly what has already been said.... a massive amount of people will spend hundreds or thousands on cameras and lenses without knowing how to use them... looking at your photo's you obviously do but how many people would buy the canon xxd or xd ranges for their first camera as they didn't want the entry level xxxd range???

same goes for nikon and their ranges as well
 
foodpoison said:
Perhaps it wasn't meant with a tone?

In one way he's saying "You don't know how to use a camera, get a book you idiot", or on a total other way he's saying "Good luck in the future mate, if you want a bit of advice, considering you've told me you're a keen amateur, there are loads of books out there that offer loads of advice!"

I strongly believe that you can say anything to anybody so long as you word it correctly.
This is an instance in which perhaps a good intention went hand in hand with poor execution.
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I'm sure you're right. Ironically, I've had the D700 two weeks and in the last three I have read the instruction manual cover to cover, Ken Rockwells guide to the camera and the hot shoe diaries cover to cover.

So his advice was right.

:lol:
 
Ah, beautiful irony :p

There are plenty of people out there with 'Gear Envy', be it someone has an Xbox 360 Elite and you only have an Xbox 360 Premium, or you have a Ford Ka and someone else has a Ford Ka Sport.

It's human nature to envy, and should the tone have been the first I mentioned, then just be chuffed you've put a dent in his day and affected him that much.
 
The guy was jealous and felt the need to insult you. As others have said - Gear envy! If you never called yourself a "keen amateur" then he may never have said anything.

I like your shots. The picture quality and clarity is amazing and almost tempts me to go full frame. For a "keen amateur" I am quite impressed :)
 
ROFL2K9 said:
Guess you must have woken up with quite a hangover by the looks of it :D :coat:


http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Dummies-Third-Julie/dp/0764506463



:D
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:nono::lol:

voodoochild said:
The guy was jealous and felt the need to insult you. As others have said - Gear envy! If you never called yourself a "keen amateur" then he may never have said anything.

I like your shots. The picture quality and clarity is amazing and almost tempts me to go full frame. For a "keen amateur" I am quite impressed :)
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Thanks very much

EdBray said:
The masks are a bit dodgy on #3, #4 & #5
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:lol:
 
ShawWellPete said:
...in the last three I have read the instruction manual cover to cover, Ken Rockwells guide to the camera and the hot shoe diaries cover to cover.
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May be his advice was right seeing that you read Ken Rockwell in a search of a wisdom ;) ...
 
"The Hot Shoe Diaries" is superb! You already have the right book, providing you understand a little about photography anyway.. and I'd say from your shots above that you aren't a beginner!

Didn't you point out that you D700 doesn't have a muppet mode? :D
 
I took a LOT of stick on here when I first signed up, and a lot of people said a lot worse than that.

In all honesty, it did wind me up but only because the forum actually encouraged questions and so on. I couldn't understand people saying, "Why buy L-glass when you've just got into photography? Leave that for the pros..."

Fair enough if they're suggesting something that I may regret, but I haven't regretted anything I have bought. I really think a lot of people comment because:

A. They cannot afford/justify it for themselves.
B. They had to save for ages and hate seeing someone buying it just for some fun (as a amateur).
C. They want to feel professional with their gear and don't want amateurs owning the same equiptment.

But yes, he may not have meant it in a tone. I have learn a LOT from watching YouTube videos and photography DVD's -- mainly lighting DVD's. I feel I've learnt so, so much recently regarding studio shots, lighting and so on. It's a whole new side of photography and I feel I'm progressing very quickly but I've always been like that.

Slowly but surely the regular critics have stopped trying to insult me but you still get the odd one or two. It really doesn't bother me any more. You'll get the same people in anything in life mate...
 
To be fair to the bloke, we can't really tell what he meant from what you've said. It's all in the tone and the delivery.

He could easily have mean't, "that's a really nice camera you've got mate, make sure you get the most out of it, there are some good books about."
 
HoppyUK said:
To be fair to the bloke, we can't really tell what he meant from what you've said. It's all in the tone and the delivery.

He could easily have mean't, "that's a really nice camera you've got mate, make sure you get the most out of it, there are some good books about."
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You're probably right and to be fair he was a very nice guy. He got a good photo of me with the wife too.
 
ShawWellPete said:
I'm sure you're right. Ironically, I've had the D700 two weeks and in the last three I have read the instruction manual cover to cover, Ken Rockwells guide to the camera and the hot shoe diaries cover to cover.

So his advice was right.

:lol:
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Did you mention that you had only had the camera for 2 weeks?
It would make a difference to his view of you and your abilities.
 
Suvv said:
Did you mention that you had only had the camera for 2 weeks?
It would make a difference to his view of you and your abilities.
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I might have done, but I'm pretty sure I said I had upgraded.

At the time I was just a bit miffed that he assumed I didn't have a clue how to use my camera. However I'm not particularly surprised, I was, after all, a half cut bloke in a dinner suit with a expensive camera and no batteries...
 
LOL. I'd have felt wound up too - cheeky condescending sod!

I was at Dudley Zoo many years ago taking shots in the reptile house, when this guy came in and opened a case with two top end Nikon bodies and a load of lenses and other bits. He proceeded to blast away from about 6 feet through glass with a huge Metz flash gun. Without being too unkind, just watching him handle the kit it was obvious his wallet exceeded his experience.

I tactfully pointed out that all he was going to be getting was huge flare from the flash on the glass.

Instant hostility!:eek: He loftily informed me that he was a pro photographer and that he'd probably forgotten more about photography than I knew and to kindly keep my opinions to myself, which of course I did. :shrug:
 
CT said:
LOL. I'd have felt wound up too - cheeky condescending sod!

I was at Dudley Zoo many years ago taking shots in the reptile house, when this guy came in and opened a case with two top end Nikon bodies and a load of lenses and other bits. He proceeded to blast away from about 6 feet through glass with a huge Metz flash gun. Without being too unkind, just watching him handle the kit it was obvious his wallet exceeded his experience.

I tactfully pointed out that all he was going to be getting was huge flare from the flash on the glass.

Instant hostility!:eek: He loftily informed me that he was a pro photographer and that he'd probably forgotten more about photography than I knew and to kindly keep my opinions to myself, which of course I did. :shrug:
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He was right - He had forgotten more about photography than you knew :D
 
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